O
wners of the historic Lawrence Hotel at 69‑89 East San Fernando St. in downtown San Jose have begun a cleanup to pave the way for a full renovation. Co‑owner Joseph Castillo, a local restaurant entrepreneur, said the building’s permits are secured and the demolition of fire‑scorched debris is underway. A crane has been lifting wreckage from the second floor, where the 1893‑built hotel suffered extensive damage in January 2021.

    “Cleanup should finish in about a year,” Castillo told reporters, noting the city’s long‑standing blight problem. “We’re ready to restore the hotel to its former glory and bring new life to the space.”

    City officials echo the urgency. Bob Staedler of Silicon Valley Synergy urged the city to prioritize blight removal over rhetoric, citing the Lawrence Hotel as a glaring example. He also referenced the First Church of Christ Scientist at 43 East St. James St., once dubbed the “trash‑bag church” after a tarp covered the structure for years. In 2023, construction executive Jim Salata and colleagues removed the tarp, cleaned microplastics, and patched a roof hole, but the property—owned by an affiliate of China‑based Z & L Properties—has seen no further progress.

    Castillo’s vision for the Lawrence Hotel includes ground‑floor dining and retail, with a potential rooftop bar on the second level. “We’re excited to start this work after the fire,” he said, emphasizing the building’s historic significance and the goal of preserving its character.

    The cleanup marks the first step toward revitalizing a key downtown landmark and addressing San Jose’s blight challenges.